Enjoyment, education, and stimulation are the three initiatives of performers on a theatrical stage. Colorado is as rich in dramatic theater as its mines were once full of gold. The history of the playhouses are just as melodramatic as the vaudeville productions of today, and as heartbreaking as Shakespeare's tragedies. Yes, Shakespeare is alive and well in Colorado, where most imagine the stage would be set for saloon brawls and cowboy songs. From almost every corner of the state, quality live theater captivates and enriches the lives of those who come to watch.
The Central Hub: Denver and South Central
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is as dramatic off-stage as are the actors' performances are on-stage. The DCPA is separated into two theater divisions: Denver Center Attractions and the Denver Theatre Company. Denver Center Attractions presents eight to twelve Broadway productions and long-running cabaret shows annually. Along with showing contemporary and classic plays, the Denver Theatre Company is a Tony Award-winning company known for its loyalty to new writing. At the Denver Theatre Company, eight to ten plays, of all three types, are performed seasonally.
For comedy lovers, the Bovine Metropolis Theatre and the Impulse Theatre are both houses of laughter. The Bovine Metropolis is a sketch comedy and improv-to theater that runs shows throughout the week. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, the Impulse Theatre comes alive with hilarity on stage, and shows that are full of audience interaction. Some other theater groups in Denver are the Hungry Artists Ensemble, the Bug Theatre, and the Lida Project.
Chuck wagon suppers and mouth-watering steaks set the stage for the dinner theater at the Flying W Ranch located in Colorado Springs. A working cattle ranch, the Flying W Winter Steakhouse is open on Friday and Saturday nights, with two seatings each night. From October through December, and then again from March to mid-May, The Flying W Wranglers perform their Western Stage Show for full-bellied and excited dinner guests.
More fun for the entire family is found at the Iron Springs Melodrama Dinner Theater in Manitou Springs. The theater is open April through December, though only on weekend nights in April, and most weekday nights the rest of the season. Adding comedy and vaudeville to the Pikes Peak Region, this dinner show is a sing-a-long, foot-stomping must-see.
In 1966, the town of Creede sent out letters to neighboring universities with the dream to build a theater to bolster summer revenue with the decline of the mines. A 19 year-old student from the University of Kansas delivered himself and 12 other students, along with the answer to Creede's theatrical dream. A visitor to Creede can see five or six plays a week because of the intense repertory schedule of the theater. The history of the Creede Repertory Theatre and its present success is a headline for any fairy tale story.
The Crystal Mountain Center, also known as the Jones Theatre, was once a rowdy saloon in Westcliffe. This theater not only has play productions, but also musical theater, melodramas, one woman and one man shows. The season runs from April through September.
The Four Corners
In the Upper East River Valley lies Crested Butte, where downtown looks the same as it did a century ago. The intimate feel of the town is carried over to the theater, where local favorites are mixed with national entertainers. The Center for the Arts offers an assortment of entertainment throughout the year, both indoors and out.
The Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Grand Lake runs productions in the summer. In years past they have had to turn people away because they are so popular. Their productions and costumes have received four-star ratings and ovation awards in The Denver Post. Every theater loves a full house, but no one likes to say "we're full," so be sure to get your tickets early.
Directly on the region's Northwestern split lies Breckenridge, where the Breckenridge Theatre is located. Backstage Theatre is the non-profit organization responsible for the productions, but the location itself is called by both names. The uniqueness of these productions is can be accredited to the volunteers. Life lived with live theater from a community that loves producing it for both residents and visitors shouldn't be passed up.
To the southeast is the Steel City Theatre Company (SCTC), in Pueblo. The SCTC runs year round, while the Damon Runyon Repertory Theater runs eight shows in one season. Pueblo also houses the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center that holds performances on both national and local levels. Sangre de Cristo runs a Center Stage Performing Arts Series as well as a Children's Playhouse Series. Performances in both the Children's and the Arts Series run during the school season: August through May.
The Front Range
Who would have thought the little town of Ft. Collins would be so proactive in its endeavors to teach and create live theater? The Lincoln Center is the city's cultural arts center with two indoor performing arts venues, a Performance Hall and a Mini Theatre. This Mini Theatre is the seasonal home of OpenStage, a professional theater group that produces six plays a year, each running for five weeks. Colorado State University also produces six plays a year. The Bas Bleu Theatre, whose namesake is from an 18th century English literary circle, is a cozy theater, created to promote discussion after its performances. An evening of entertainment combined with a delicous meal can be enjoyed at the Carousel Dinner Theater. Fort Collins Children's Theatre and Debut Theatre Company are other theater groups in the area.
Imagine...the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, eating a gourmet picnic supper in an outdoor arena as you are immersed in the illuminating dramas and comedies of Shakespeare. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is held annually in Boulder during the summer months. The calendar consists of some outdoor plays, in the Mary Rippon Theatre, whose namesake is one of the first woman faculty members at a university. Picnics, or "Falstaff's Fare," can be purchased for the outdoor arena. Other plays are indoors at the University Theatre. Also in Boulder are the Peanut Butter Players, a professional children's group, and the Nomad Theatre.
If Shakespeare is correct, and all the world's a stage, then Colorado would be the lights. The state is so colorful with its variety of backdrops and personalities it could make any world-stage sparkle. Colorado is a primary stage for any theater production.
